Midlands Zone June 2017

Cover - Mickey Taylor.qxp_Layout 1 22/05/2017 17:16 Page 1

MIDLANDS ZONE ISSUE 242 JUNE 2017

THE UK’S BIGGEST REGIONAL GAY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

GET YA TATS OUT!

PICK ME UP I’m FREE

JUNE 2017 ISSUE 242

t

We take a look at tattoo folk in the region

+

16-page Pride picture special!

@MIDLANDSZONE MIDLANDSZONE.CO.UK

FOOD VIRAL GADGETS WHAT’S ON COMPETITIONS

Birmingham and pop talk ’s star of porn s all things ta ts!

Contents June.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2017 17:06 Page 1

Birmingham Pride 40 Check out our Birmingham Pride picture special!

Get ya tats out! 15

6 pages filled with all things ink

ALSO INSIDE: Have Ya Heard? 5 LGBT Election Special 8 Local Life Story 10 What’s On Scene 20 Summer of Pride 23 What’s On Arts 38 Out On The Scene 55 Competitions 56 Sexual Health 57 Gadgets 59 Munch 61 Stephen Spinks Column 63 Cat’s Corner 64 Steve Ball Column 65 Viral 66

Porn to Pop 12

Mickey Taylor talks tattoos, music and Grindr!

Part of

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Editor-in-Chief & Publisher: Martin Monahan Editor: Ryan Humphreys ryan@midlandszone.co.uk 01743 281722 Sales & Marketing: Lei Woodhouse lei@midlandszone.co.uk 01743 281703 Chris Horton chris.horton@midlandszone.co.uk 01743 281704 Admin/ Subscriptions: Adrian Parker adrian.parker@midlandszone.co.uk 01743 281714 Managing Director: Davina Evans Graphic Designers: Lisa Wassell, Chris Atherton Accounts Administrator: Julia Perry julia@whatsonlive.co.uk 01743 281717 This publication is printed on paper from a sustainable source and is produced without the use of elemental chlorine.

We endorse the recycling of our magazine and would encourage you to pass it on to others to read when you have finished with it.

All works appearing in this publication are copyright. It is to be assumed that the copyright for material rests with the magazine unless otherwise stated. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or stored in an electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recording or otherwise, without the prior knowledge and consent of the publishers.

News MM June.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2017 17:22 Page 1

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Pride’s Got Talent contest returns ahead of Warwickshire Pride 2017 Warwickshire Pride organisers say that this year’s Pride’s Got Talent competition will be the biggest and best in the event’s four-year history.

Taking place on Friday 30 June at the Episode Hotel, the contest will once again be searching for a superstar to grace the main stage at this year’s Warwickshire Pride festival.

The competition’s judging panel this year includes drag queen Sassi Afrika and musician C4Z. The judges will provide their feedback on all the acts, and the audience will then vote to decide who wins.

The successful contestant will receive a headline slot on the main stage at the Warwickshire Pride festival in August.

For more information, visit warwickshirepride.co.uk Sassi Afrika

? d r a e h a y e v a H

...even though attendance drops by 20%

Birmingham Pride organisers have hailed this year’s event another success, despite security concerns which followed the tragic event in Manchester.

Whilst numbers were around 20% down on previous years, Lawrence Barton, Birmingham Pride Festival Director, remained upbeat: “The week leading up to the Pride weekend was one of the most challe nging, indeed we are indebted to both West Midlands Police and the security teams deployed, who collectively ensured it was another safe and happy Pride for everyone to enjoy.

“I would like to thank everybody who show ed such unity by turning up to both the Parade and also the Festival and I’m imme nsely proud of everyone who took part.”

Dates for next year’s Festival have been confir

Shrewsbury LGBT

community in search of carnival float members

group LGBT Leading members of community LGBTs to for out look the on Shrewsbury are bury Carnival ews Shr ual ann r thei in them join float entry. ribe the event Organisers of the carnival desc positive ging as ‘a fun and lively way of brin sands of thou to T LGB g messages about bein be queswill m who of e som , ages all of citizens re’. tioning now or in the futu le to make the The group is looking for 30 peop entry a ‘vibrant success’. , you can If you’re interested in taking part ymru@hotpg.c to il ema an ing send sign up by Shrewsin e mail.co.uk The event takes plac e.

Jun 17 bury on Saturday

med as 26 and 27 May 2018.

Queer Question Time: Do you know who you’re voting for?

With a snap general election taking place this month, have you decided who’s getting your vote yet? The country is more divided than ever, and this year’s election is set to be one of the most heated for a generation.

That’s why you might want to pop along to Queer Question Time at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre in Centenary Square.

Taking a format based on BBC One’s Question Time programme, the event provides members of the LGBT community with the chance to grill candidates from the main political parties.

Human rights and LGBT campaigner Peter Tatchell (pictured) will also be on the panel.

Queer Question Time takes place in the Studio Theatre at The REP, Birmingham, on Tuesday 6 June at 7.30pm. It’s a free event but tickets must be booked in advance at The REP box office - 0121 245 4455 - or online at birmingham-rep.co.uk MidlandsZone.co.uk 5

News MM June.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2017 17:22 Page 3

Coventry to get new gay bar and club this month!

Coventry’s gay scene will double in size this month when an all-new gay venue opens in the city.

The Yard, located at 11-12 Bull Yard and formerly a bar called Glasshouse, will be officially opened on Friday 9 June by Hollyoaks star Kieron Richardson.

The following night sees award-winning P!nk tribute act Vicky Jackson taking to the stage.

A daytime LGBT stand-up event on the Sunday, presented as part of Coventry Pride, will be followed in the evening by cabaret from local drag star Fanny Burns.

Search ‘The Yard Coventry’ on Facebook for more information.

Bar Diva brings gay scene cabaret to Dudley

An all-new gay bar opened in Dudley last month. Situated in the Black Country town’s King Street, Bar Diva’s tagline is ‘be yourself’.

The venue plans to host numerous cabaret acts, presented alongside great music and attractive drinks offers. For more information, visit bardiva.co.uk or call 01384 259684.

Walsall Pride rns Ball - black-tie event retu to raise cash for Pride festival

This month sees the return of the annual Walsall Pride Ball, taking place at the town’s Arbor Lights restaurant on Friday 30 June from 8pm.

Not only will a ticket to the event get you a slapup three-course Black Country-themed meal, it will also buy you a whole bunch of entertainment, from performances by Ego Dance and hostess & DJ Glamour to the live drag cabaret magic of Sandra (pictured).

Tickets cost £35 and are Lion and The Lion. hts and local gay bars The Red now on sale from Arbor Lig 22 613361 or visit walWalsall Pride a ring on 019 For more information, give ival. fest e ed go to the Walsall Prid sallpride.org. All profits rais

er concert Rainbow Voices announces summ Midlands LGBT choir Rainbow

Voices has announced details of its annual summer concert.

Entitled Diversity And Harmony, the show will take place at the Hagley Road Village in Birmingham’s Edgbaston district on Saturday 22 July. And to give the whole shindig a little more sparkle, the choir has roped in popular local comedian Barbara Nice as compere.

If you’re keen to enjoy a summertime sing-song, tickets are available now from rainbowvoices.bpt.me.

They cost £7 in advance or £8.50 on the door.

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News MM June.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2017 17:22 Page 4

? d r a e h a y e v a H

Following on from a hugely successful Australian tour and sell-out runs off-Broadway and at London’s Soho Theatre, RuPaul's Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon is heading out on a 20-date tour in November.

Jinkx will appear in The Vaudevillians, ‘a vintage cabaret with a twist of drag’ that co-stars composer and musician Major Scales.

A huge favourite when she appeared in global TV phenomenon RuPaul’s Drag Race, Jinkx is the sassy alter-ego of Portland-born Jerick Hoffer.

Major Scales, meanwhile, is the evil twin of Seattle-based musician, writer and performer Richard Andriessen.

The Vaudevillians visits Stafford Gatehouse on 5 November, Leicester’s Y Theatre on 25 November and Nottingham’s Glee Club on 5 December.

her Late Night Pop see Charlotte Church and When crowds flocked to ge last month, they mingham Pride Main Sta Dungeon Tour on the Bir ... they’d bargained for certainly got more than and boy, can Chardance moves were great, the tic, tas fan The show was -born vocalist was a diff Car didn’t expect from the s fan at wh but g sin e lott with her third child! ent that she’s pregnant live-on-stage announcem g off her baby bump for around the stage, showin Charlotte proudly danced place to announce at gre a at Pride to see - wh the whole of Birmingham tulations, Charlotte! such special news! Congra

released!

If you’re a fan of XXL, the award-winning gay men’s club night that takes place not only in London but also right here in the Midlands (at Birmingham’s Core Club), then you’re in for a real treat, because they’ve just released their own album!

XXL: The Album features not one but two mixes, allowing you to throw your own mini XXL party at home! The first mix, by event founder Mark Ames, focuses on XXL favourites and classics. The second provides a more upfront house menu, mixed by XXL’s resident DJ and producer, Paul Morrell.

Grab the album now from Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes and Google Play.

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General Election feature.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2017 15:45 Page 1

marks the spot...

It’s not so much ‘flaming’ June as ‘flaming heck, we’ve got to go back to the ballot-box again!’ June.

Yes indeed, Prime Minister Theresa May is requesting that we yet again have a good ol’ think about where we want to stick our thingy. She’s absolutely desperate that we give it to her - our vote, we mean and is joined in her desire to have an X mark her spot by Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn and the Lib Dem’s Tim Farron (and some other leaders too, but for the sake of brevity let’s stick to this unholy trinity, shall we?).

8 MidlandsZone.co.uk

So who’s going to bag your vote on the eighth of the month? Strong-and-stable Theresa, Red Jezza or Timmy Two Times (can we have a second referendum, please) Farron?

Well, before dropping into your friendly neighbourhood polling station to discharge your ‘democratic duty’, maybe you should take a moment to contemplate what each of the three leaders has done for the LGBT community (or not, as the case may be).

Check out the next page to see who’s been most LGBT-friendly down the years...

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Voting stance on LGBT issues Theresa May - Conservative

Famous for having once described the Tories as ‘the nasty party’, Theresa used to be a wee bit on the nasty side herself - at least where supporting gay rights was concerned. She voted against both same-sex couples’ right to adopt and parity in the age of consent. She was also conspicuous by her absence for votes on the Gender Recognition Bill, the Equality Act and the repeal of Section 28. She’s not an altogether bad lass, though, having flown her rainbow flag in the name of civil partnerships. She also oversaw this year’s introduction of ‘the Alan Turing law’, which saw gay men who’d been convicted of homosexuality before it was decriminalised receive a full pardon.

Jeremy Corbyn - Labour

Labour’s bearded wonder loves campaigning on behalf of minority groups, so it’s not surprising that he’s seen it, done it and bought the rainbow t-shirt when it comes to supporting LGBT rights. He’s given his thumbs-up to all the pro-gay legislation into which Mrs May has dug her leopard-print kitten heels, and has been banging the drum on our behalf for more years than the prime minister has made U-turns.

Tim Farron - Lib Dems

Timbo got himself tangled up in a pink web of controversy at the beginning of the election campaign, when he couldn’t stop banging on about a second referendum for long enough to utter the words, “No, I don’t have a problem with gay sex”. However, there was more to his unwillingness to clarify his position on all matters homosexual than his obsession with trying to keep us in the EU. Tim’s a Christian - and judging by his initial evasiveness when asked for his views on gay sex, he’s one who’s had a bit of a problem with some aspects of the LGBT lifestyle. That said, he did eventually say that his Christian values were in no way affronted by gay sex - and to give the fella his due, it should also be noted that he came out in favour of same-sex marriage.

So there you have it. The battle lines have been drawn and the choice is yours.

A recent mygayvote.co.uk analysis has revealed that, when it comes to LGBT-focused legislation, we’ve received on average 31% support from the Tories, 96% from Labour and 95% from the Lib Dems.

There are, of course, other parties to vote for instead of the above three, and at the end of the day we must each follow either our conscience or our gut instinct. Whoever tickles your fancy and for whatever the reason, the important thing is to make sure you get along to your polling station on the eighth of this month. Your country, as they say, needs you...

Get along to Queer Question Time at the Birmingham REP Theatre on Tuesday 6 June. See p5 for more information.

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Local Life Story.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2017 15:46 Page 1

Local Life Story

times a longer fuse and more patience would create a happier environment for those around me.

What’s been the most embarrassing thing you’ve done in your life?

Name: James Cowper (Gavina Vagina)

Place of birth: Redditch Star sign: Virgo Age: 29 - I expect gasps of shock and disbelief!

r

s Cowpe About Jame

u grow up?

Where did yo idd I lived in K My parents an derminster. ched?

Single or atta ined.

Happily restra you happy?

What makes ng gs, entertaini Chris, our do havd an ve ti crea people, being ain to apply my br ing a project to. you sad?

What makes e cruelty and th Loss, animal y rl de el ne eo m thought of so r own. being on thei you angr y?

What makes being lied to Homophobia, h no ‘get up it and people w probably also ch hi and go’, w id people! includes stup change one If you could urself, yo thing about be? it ld what wou driven and I can be very rhaps at outspoken. Pe

Quickfire Who's your favourite actor?

At the moment, Cumberbatch or Redmayne - too close to call!

What’s your favourite book?

Google!

10 MidlandsZone.co.uk

I may as well say it before someone else does. I was judging as Gavina for the final of The C Factor at The Village Inn a couple of weeks ago. I didn’t realise until I got there that the rubber grip on the bottom of my heels had come off. I was panicking that at any moment I was going to fall (something I have NEVER done in heels!). I was called to the stage to be introduced. I got up, said hello, stepped off and splat, down like a sack of s*@t! In front of a bar packed full of people! I guess it will give people something to talk about for a few weeks.

Now that same-sex marriage has been legalised, would you consider getting married?

Absolutely. In fact, Chris and I are engaged; we just haven’t set a date yet, as we’ve both been incredibly busy with work.

Coming Out

When did you first know you were gay?

Looking back now, I realise that I knew when I was around 12 years old.

When did you come out?

When I was at college at the age of 17. I can actually remember the night I accepted it. It had been going back and forth in my mind was this actually me, or is my head wired wrong or something?

I can vividly remember lying on my bedroom floor, blasting out on repeat the Marilyn Manson song

(I had a phase!), Personal Jesus. After a couple of hours, I sort of accepted it. I went to college the next day and told a friend. Her response was, ‘Oh, okay’, then she gave me a hug and asked if I wanted to go for a coffee, as if nothing had changed. It was the BIGGEST relief of my life and probably one of the most liberating things I’ve ever done.

What was school like for you as a gay teenager?

I wasn’t out at school, but I guess looking back I was gay, I just hadn’t accepted it. But it was difficult! I was this somewhat camp, ginger guy who wasn’t into sports, which in a private school is three massive things going against you!

What would you say to a youngster trying to come to terms with their own sexuality?

You can only accept it in your own time, no matter what other people say to you.

There’s no textbook answer about how long it takes. But remember that although some people aren’t as accepting of it, there are always people - friends and family - who will support you and be there for you when you need them, and who are willing to go at your pace. Being yourself is a fantastic feeling!

Your Career

When you were younger, what did you want to be?

I wanted to work in robotics and the development of cybernetics (the amalgamation of man and machine).

What was your first job when you left school?

Till-tart at Focus DIY. What is your role at Glamorous?

My official role is simply a drag DJ and host. Recently I’ve become more involved, as I’ve been designing and project-managing their refurbishment. It’s a

Half empty or half full?

Malibu & Coke.

Half full. There’s always a way!

Madonna or Lady Gaga?

What’s your favourite food?

Eurgh! Gaga, if I had to say one!

Smoked salmon.

If you could take a selfie with one person, alive or dead, who would it be?

And how about your favourite drink?

My nanny.

Local Life Story.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2017 15:46 Page 2

ud project that I’m incredibly pro c phi gra e lanc free a also I’m of. designer, so I do their artwork and promotional materials too.

Missing Bar is my first base, though. It’s the first bar I to worked in when I first decided ingBirm to e mov a ing start mak ham from home. I started as a g barman, then moved on to bein nts eve & ng keti mar the venue’s manager, as well as DJing for them. I stopped the marketing when other personal projects started taking up more of my time. I now just have drag and DJ residencies there. But it always has a special place in my , heart, and whenever I’m needed ist ass to py I’m more than hap e, particularly around Pride tim con and rk dwo woo re’s the n whe all of k Jac struction to be done. trades, me!

What are the highlights?

My personal highlight, if I’m on stage or DJing, is having people come up to me at the end of a shift, offering me their hand, t thanking me for a fantastic nigh ing look y’re the and saying that forward to coming back again. did With regard to Gavina, how ? look r you come up with you It’s developed over the years into something I’m now pretty happy with. It’s not the best,

but it’s not the worst. Ori ginally, it was very Twiggy-esque, but now it’s something a bit tam er, although still with big, over-thetop eyes.

How did you come up with the name Gavina Vagina?

For the life of me, I can ’t remember.

I do sometimes wish it was different, though. When readin g it, people pronounce it wrong , but it had already begun to stick by the time I felt it was a problem. I guess it’s an instant way to start a con versation with people, trying to get them to say it correctly. However , thanks to a friend’s suggestion, in times of need I just tell them my name is Aunty Vag!

Gay Scene

How long have you bee n frequenting the Midlands gay scene?

Twelve years now.

. It was the most kid into a sweet shop er seen - someev I’d ht incredible sig . thing I’ll never forget e cabaret act on Who’s your favourit the scene? thout a shadow It has to be Twiggy, wi drag I ever saw of a doubt - the first ation to my own or met. A true inspir culture itself. ag dr to character and first!

Twiggy always did it e person on the Who’s your favourit gay scene? ion! I don’t do What a horrible quest eryone equally! favourites - I hate ev joy about the What do you most en scene? ody hard Pride - although it’s blo o’re part of wh us of se tho work for d working on an planning, organising it.

And what’s been your fondest memory of the gay sce ne?

Skint at DV8 would be one of them.

It was the first gay bar or club I ever set foot in. I remem ber walking inside to this thump a-thumpa, as I call it - the bass bea t hitting you in the chest. The mu sic was fantastic. The crowds we re dancing - men with men, wome n with women - there were col oured lights everywhere and toples s podium dancers. It was like thr owing a

ed about the What have you notic changed over way the gay scene’s the years? ! Well, not like Gay isn’t GAY anymore the same it used to be. I don’t get . Music did thumpa-thumpa as I and I get ge an ch changes, trends think that to e am sh a that. But it’s pped into a ste st what I felt when I fir eone else som w ho gay club won’t be hey, t Bu it. l fee d an new will see know! r ve u ne Steps are back, so yo

Time Out

t out? e to go on a nigh Where do you lik t my friends go e I’v r, so long as It doesn’t matte e! ow who they ar with me. They kn to relax? Sleep!

What do you do ything joy on telly? An What do you en ucational in ed or d action-base science-fiction, icular . Space is a part the science area favourite! k you st album or trac What was the la ef loor. nc Da e Th Tears On bought? Steps’ d the most site do you spen Which one web time on? Ebay. efer? liday do you pr What type of ho e with good siv lu nc ach, all-i Transatlantic, be food.

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Mickey Taylor DPS MM.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2017 17:03 Page 1

Mickey Taylor

talks tattoos, music and Grindr.

12 MidlandsZone.co.uk

Mickey Taylor DPS MM.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2017 17:03 Page 2

As a porn star, Mickey Taylor has worked with some of ‘the biggest names in the biggest studios in the UK’. His entrepreneurial skills have seen him launch his own clothing line, calendar and books, while as a solo singer he already has two albums under his belt.

We recently caught up with the boy from Essex to talk tattoos, music and Pride...

When and what was your first tattoo, Mickey?

When I was about 13 or 14 years old, I had ‘Mum’ tattooed on my left palm. It was a cool one to have.

A lot of your tattoos are black. Do you think you’ll introduce other colours?

I just like black, grey and white. Not only in tattoos but also in fashion. A lot of the clothes I wear are black. I just like the look of it. I did have a few little bits of colour here and there, but that’s as good as it will ever get.

As you cover more of your body with tattoos, will you get pickier about designs?

I’ll probably get looser with the designs. When you've had your first few, I think you panic about what’s going in your body, and for months and months you figure out how and where you want it, asking your friends. But then the more you have, the more you just think, it’s just another tattoo. Whatever I get next will be whatever I feel like on the day, I guess.

How many tattoos do you have?

About 100. That’s individual ones. Now they’re starting to blend together, so the number is going down!

Have you got a favourite?

It’s the one I got recently. It’s the microphone on my throat, which I had done in February. Everyone was telling me it was going to hurt and that I was going to be in a lot of pain, but it really wasn’t that bad. The front was easy; the back, harder.

Is there anything you'd go to see the tattoo fixers for?

I would never go to the tattoo fixers.

Their reputation is so bad.

Is there anything you'd like to have covered up?

I want to get my chest tattoo fixed.

There are three or four and they don't blend well, so I’d like to get them blended.

Let’s talk about your music. Your first cover was Lana Del Ray’s Video Games...

I just remember falling in love with it. I remember it really captivating me at the time. When I did an interview for a magazine, they asked me if I had experience doing anything other than porn, as that’s what I was doing at the time. I said I could sing and dance, and they said they’d love to hear me sing. I just clutched onto Video Games as a good one to start with.

Your new album, Midnight Palace, follows hot on the heel of the Puppets Lament album. What was the inspiration for this?

I wrote the whole thing in this weird meta phase. It sounds so stupid, but that’s probably because it is. I wrote it because it was how I’d been feeling during the previous few years. I've been through some pretty horrible stuff. I wanted to get it out there but not in too negative a way. So I decided to write these uptempo tracks - to give it that Sia vibe, as she writes in Titanium about alcohol abuse. Also in Chandelier. They’re both very upbeat songs. I wanted to achieve that feel with this album.

You've been touring with this album and have dates coming up. How have your fans taken to it?

They really connect with the slow stuff.

I try to do one or two slow songs, just to show a more vulnerable side of myself.

I’m finding they're really enjoying two songs in particular - Pain and Harlequin.

I think it’s because they’re totally different but at the same time love songs. People seem to have connected with those two the most.

Is your tour coming anywhere near the Midlands?

In the UK we’re doing London, Manchester and Edinburgh. We will also head into the Midlands.

You're mostly known for your porn career. How did you get into the business?

about doing it. I politely told him to go fuck himself, as I really didn't want to do it. Three months and lots of nagging later, I went to my mum and told her there was a man hustling me to do hardcore, and did she think I should do it.

She said, ‘You're only young once, and this body is only going to last you so many more years, so you may as well get it over with’. I went to the audition and liked the industry right there and then.

How old were you at the time?

I’d just turned 21.

What’s been the funniest on-the-job moment during your porn career?

Having two people film in front of me as I’m directing them. One of them is humming along to an Ariana Grande song while keeping still for the photos and pulling a sex face!

When do you see yourself retiring from porn?

This year or next. The porn industry is always changing and developing. I started it at the right time. The way we were seeing body image and the way we were seeing men was starting to change, and new models like myself were introduced on the back of that change. There are always new guys coming in, so those who’ve been in it a long time step away. I have my music, so I'm very happy doing that.

You've written two books. Did you always want to be an author?

I got into it because as a child I went through horrible experiences such as sexual assault, and a few other things not to mention. But I thought and hoped people would be inspired by the books.

They will give people love and appreciation for themselves. I’m working on the last one now - hopefully it will be out in July.

With the Pride season upon us, are you going to any festivals?

Definitely Manchester Pride, and I’d love to go to Cardiff Pride, too. That’s the one I’d really like to hit.

Weirdly, I got in through Grindr. An agent found me and asked how I felt MidlandsZone.co.uk 13

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A Y T E G S T T A T OUT! Birmingham is the UK’s TATTOO capital!

Tattoos. Some people love them, others hate them. But did you know that the Midlands is home to the tattoo capital of the UK? Yes, that’s right - Birmingham has been crowned as the tattoo capital of the UK with nearly half of all adults having gone under the needle!

The survey was conducted by insurance brokers Carole Nash and the results showed that getting inked has massively risen in popularity with a total of 48 per cent of people saying they’d been

tattooed, with most respondants claiming to have between 11 and 15 different designs.

It’s no wonder really when some of our favourite idols show off their awesome ink, often leaving us in awe. People like David Beckham or Justin Bieber are always getting inked with elaborate designs that make us feel the need to get our first or next tattoo, meaning Brummies spend £198 on average on each piece of work.

So who else ranked up there with Birmingham in the tattoo charts?

Well the second city is home to the

highest number of people with a tattoo, followed by Norwich in second and Glasgow following up closely in third.

So which designs are the most popular here in the Midlands - and where are they? Well it’s been revealed that Birmingham has a liking for horror themed tattoos, followed by Celtic lettering in second place. However, across the nation, the most popular designs featured flowers with lettering, song lyrics or popular phrases.

And you’ll more often than not find them on an arm, shoulder or back.

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Reader’s Tattoos...

This month we asked you - our Midlands Zone readers to show us your inkings and tell us about the stories behind them.

Check out some of our favourites below...

Gaz Barton, Birmingham

Paul Goodwin

I don't think it's classed as a ‘cool tattoo’, but I have a Pokemon sleeve on my left arm that I truly love.

The world’s quite serious sometimes, so it’s nice to have something to remind me to take things half hearted at times.

I wanted a tribal tattoo as it's something I can evolve and change.

It's been black and red for around eight years now, but I'm considering more red and more shading.

Shane Shakespeare, Walsall

It's a rainbow feather with flying birds. I absolutely fell in love with this design because it’s meaningful as I had it done after I came out as gay. The birds symbolise me breaking into my new life and the rainbow feather is a symbol for the LGBT community.

So are you ready for your next (or first tattoo)?

Here are five great tattoo studios in the tattoo capital of the UK (yes, it’s Birmingham!)...

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1

VIVID INK vividinktattoos.co.uk

Vivid Ink has a string of tattoo studios across the Midlands, with branches in Birmingham, Sutton, Walsall, Stafford and Moseley. The chain has been established since 2011 and has forty artists and many thousands of happy customers.

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PARK STREET TATTOO parkstreettattoo.co.uk

Park Street Tattoo offer your typical machine tattoos but also specialise in a more traditional hand poke technique, offering you truly unique tattoos. It may be one of Birmingham’s smallest tattoo studios, but they know their stuff so are increasingly popular.

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Andy Williams, Birmingham All my tattoos have meanings, some are sentimental such as the signature in the scroll - it is my grandfather’s who I lost the year I was born. The three roses around my neck are for my grandmother, mother and sister.

The ‘Beauty Within’ tattoo goes without saying. It's not about the outer beauty, it’s the heart and the beauty of a person inside.

David Viney, Birmingham The vine leaves in the background refer to my name and my love of nature. It’s nothing profound, it follows around my torso also.

Kyle Lansdell, Birmingham

Aaron Fellows Here is my wonderful Sphynx tattoo completed to represent my four babies. It took forty hours to complete and was done by the wonderful Charley at Vivid Ink, right here in the Midlands.

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BODY GARDEN TATTOO bodygardentattoo.co.uk

Cesar De Cesaro has been tattooing since 1998 and is the man behind the highly popular Body Garden Tattoo studio. He has a number of artistic preferences including the ever popular Mandala designs, alongside dotwork, floral and traditional tattoos - with many being bold and solid.

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I've always loved insects, I think they're absolutely fascinating!

The moth represents the dark or ‘night’ with the moon on my wrist and the dragonfly represents the light or ‘daylight’ with the lotus flower on my wrist.

Both have been done with a rational dot-work to bring out their intricacy. They're my symmetry or my good and my bad, my light and my dark, my yin and my yang.

MODERN BODY ART modernbodyart.co.uk

Having been around since 1999, this studio is owened and operated by Matt Hunt and Jo Harrison. The studio often has guest international artists visiting Modern Body Art, whilst the gang also visit tattoo conventions across the UK and abroad. It’s quite possibly one of the most diverse tattooists in the city.

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HOUSE OF THIEVES custardfactory.co.uk

House of Thieves is located in Birmingham’s Custard Factory and is unique in the sense that it offers cruelty free tattoos offering both black and colour vegan tattoos. The ecentric studio is operated by Robert and Holly Ashby who both studied Fine Art at the University of Birmingham. You can’t get much more local than that!

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Celebs with impressive ink...

Adam Lambert

Jeffree S tar

Justin Bieber se

OITNB’s Ruby Ro

Cara Delevingn

e

Kelly Osborne

Maroon 5’s Ada

m Levine

Miley Cyrus

Lady Gaga

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TATTOO...

Unless you want a tattoo that someone else may have already then don’t look on google or Pinterest for an idea.

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Research is key. Know what you want, or at least have a good idea before you book your first appointment.

It will be inked on you forever.

Use the internet for inspi- It makes the artists job a lot ration. Instagram is a good easier if you bring pictures and place for help finding your have a clear idea of what you’re ideal artists. Instagram is used looking for. by tattooists as a way to showcase their portfolio. The artists You may get an allergic will offer ideas if you are unsure reaction from a tattoo. of exactly what you want.

Sometimes the pigments

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of tattoo ink are also found in certain makeup formulas. If you've had a reaction then get some tests beforehand so you know what kinds of ink you should avoid.

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A good tattoo isn’t cheap.

It’s worth spending more on a good tattoo. The price of a tattoo depends on the size, the area of the body you want covered and the artist.

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Before your tattoo session - Get a good nights sleep, eat plenty and don't go in drunk or hungover. You'll need energy to tolerate the pain of a tattoo, and you should stay away from alcohol because it'll thin your blood and make you bleed more during the process. staying hydrated is important.

Snacks are a great idea if you’re going to be waiting a while.

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Avoid any body of water for two weeks after your tattoo is completely finished, and also to stay out of the sun. It takes about two weeks for the tattoo to heal completely, so during that time, stick to just showers, and steer clear of your bath tub, any hot tubs, pools, lakes — you get the idea — to prevent infection.

Then, after your tattoo is totally healed, you'll need to slather that sucker with sunscreen forever to prevent the colours from breaking down and fading.

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While the tattoo is healing, it'll scab like a cut and feel sensitive like a sunburn. Right when it's finished, the tattoo will look perfect. After a couple of days, it'll start to dry out a little bit and might peel like a sunburn. It's important not to pick at scabs that form or it won't heal correctly. After two weeks, it should be all healed if you've kept it clean properly and moisturised.

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Think about your tattoo for at least a year before you commit. Think of the

word ‘timeless’ because your tattoo will be exactly that.

What you thought looked cool at the time may change over time so think hard about the design and think about whether you’ll still be into it months later. Tastes change over time but this will last forever.

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You have to be 18 to get a tattoo. It’s illegal for anyone to have a tattoo under this age even with parental consent. Good idea to bring your ID with you.

artist should respect this.

Getting your first tattoo is scary and they shouldn't be adding to your nerves or making you feel bad.

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Tattoo take time.

Don't think that you’ll be in and out in a flash. This always depends on the size and complexity of it.

Also if they are buy you may also have to wait an while. Bigger tattoos usually take multiple days to complete. There are only so many hours of being inked that you will want to bear!

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Check out the artist you’re considering on social media. This will help you decide if you like their style and want them to do your tattoo.

Make sure the parlour is spotless. It should smell and look as clean as a hospital. This isn't like getting your hair coloured. The toast is literally creating an open wound that can easily get infected.

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The design on paper will look exactly the same on your skin.

Make sure you’re observant with the final version and the check spelling as it’s not common to have a misspelled tattoo, but it does happen.

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Leave if the artists makes you feel uncomfortable. The artist may make make you feeling very unsure if they start to adjust the design or shame your idea.

This is YOUR tattoo and the

If you have a medical condition talk to your doctor about it. You may need a doctor’s note at the shop.

Some well known artists have waiting lists. To be inked by your preferred artists may live you waiting as long as year. If you have your heart set on that artists only, then wait. It will be worth it. But there will be plenty of other artists just as talented who are more low-key.

You’ll also save some money this way too.

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If you want a tat on your feet, butt or ribs then this will hurt the most. A good idea to take some painkillers after - not before to take the edge off. Taking them before may cause a negative affect on your tattooing session. Painkillers may heighten the chance of even more bleeding.

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SUMMER OF PRIDE

E D I R P F O R E M SUM festivals ide to this summer’s LGBT Pride Your gu across the Midlands and beyond...

Misha B & Lloyd Daniels headline Coventry Pride!

JUNE

Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 June - University Square coventrypride.org.uk

Coventry Pride is a rapidly expanding LGBT festival which is this year taking place over two days at a number of city centre locations. The main event is being held at University Square, where you’ll find three stages of music - headliners are Misha B and Lloyd Daniels - food, drink and numerous community stalls.

The Fargo Fringe - an LGBT art show with entertainment - takes place over at Fargo Village, while there’s a family-friendly funfair to enjoy outside Coventry Transport Museum.

Saturday 10 June - Gloucester Park glospride.org.uk Theme: Somewhere Under The Rainbow This year’s Gloucestershire Pride, hailed by organisers as ‘the biggest and best yet’, kicks off with its annual Pride parade from the Shire Hall in Gloucester at 11am. The colourful procession will make its way to Gloucester Park, where the fun continues with a free day of music and entertainment. There are more than 50 acts spread across two stages - the main stage and cabaret stage - with performers including Tina Cousins, Suzanna Dee, Freddy Parker, Kyle Passmore and Kian Taylor-Jackson. A bar, food, stalls and a funfair also feature.

s Pride in the Potterie

Saturday 24 June - Hanley Park stokeontrentpride.org.uk They’re going potty for Pride in the Potteries this year, with Stoke-On-Trent Pride moving to the new location of Hanley Park.

The event features the ProudToBe stage, hosting a fantastic line-up of entertainment throughout the course of the festival. As well as a day’sworth of music, the event also features a great selection of commun ity stalls, bars and food. Save us some Staffordshire oatcakes!

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SUMMER OF PRIDE

Live, laugh and love with the ladies at L Fest

JULY

Friday 21 - Monday 24 July - Prestwold Hall, Loughborough lfest.co.uk

Saturday 8 July - Trafalger Square prideinlondon.org Theme: Love Happens Here Last year’s Pride In London saw over 40,000 people join the parade as it made its way through the city streets, while tens of thousands more took part in the Trafalgar Square celebrations. This year will be no different, with the event’s biggest-ever parade featuring 300-plus groups. Then it’s on to Trafalgar Square, where partying punters are treated to a full day of music, as well as contributions from inspirational speakers. And, of course, the party continues into the wee small hours of the morning at a whole host of gay bars and clubs.

The UK’s only lesbian festival moves to a brand new venue this year - the luxurious Prestwold Hall in Loughborough.

Spread across four days and featuring a whole host of music, arts and entertainment, the 2017 edition of the event stars former Kosheen vocalist Sian Evans. Other entertainment on offer includes dance, cabaret, DJs, comedy, arts, literature and film.

A great weekend for friends and families, L Fest caters for ‘solos’ too - you’ll make more friends than ever before! Tickets are on sale now and start at £60 per day or £120 for the weekend.

The Pride of Chesterfield Saturday 23 July - Queen’s Park facebook.com/chesterfieldpride Returning for its third year, Chesterfield Pride is one of the region’s fastest-growing LGBT festivals, attracting thousands of people throughout the course of the day.

Featuring a host of yet-to-be-announced live acts on the main stage, the event ensures that punters are partying with plenty of pride. Stalls, food & drink outlets and a funfair add to a frenetic day of fabulous family fun.

AUGUST

It’s the Summer of Love in Brighton!

Friday 4 - Sunday 6 August - Preston Park brighton-pride.org Theme: Summer of Love

The UK’s biggest Pride festival returns, spread across three days and taking place by the sea! The main event is kicked off by a vibrant and colourful parade along the sea front, after which there’s a day’s-worth of entertainment to enjoy at Preston Park. Headlining the main stage are the iconic Pet Shop Boys and pop group Years & Years. They’re joined by Becky Hill, M.O, Fickle Friends and KStewart. There’s also a huge dance arena, featuring top DJs, and a camp cabaret tent to satisfy all your drag-queen needs! Tickets are now on sale, starting at £25, from brighton-pride.org.

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SUMMER OF PRIDE

AUGUST

Warwickshire Pride to celebrate Love & Freedom

Friday 25 - Sunday 27 August Canal Street manchesterpride.com Theme: Class of 2017 Another of the UK’s biggest gay festivals, Manchester’s bank holiday Pride event offers a big weekend of entertainment and partying based around the theme of ‘Class of 2017’.

Major names taking to the stage include Clean Bandit, Spice Girl Mel C, and X Factor stars Saara Aalto and Louisa Johnson. There are also DJ sets from Faithless, BBC Radio One’s Danny Howard and Simian Mobile Disco. Tickets are now on sale, starting at £22.50, from manchesterpide.com

Rainbows in Walsall Saturday 26 August - Gallery Square facebook.com/walsallprideofficial

Saturday 19 August - Pump Room Gardens, Leamington Spa warwickshirepride.co.uk Theme: Love & Freedom Taking place in the scenic grounds of the Pump Room Gardens, Warwickshire Pride is back for its fifth year, offering another free day of all things LGBT. The festival features its biggest and best music line-up to date. Nineties pop star Kavana headlines the main stage and is joined by X Factor star Relley C, Valerio Lysander, Feryl and more. The Gardens’ bandstand hosts a wide range of entertainment and activities too, and there are also dedicated areas for young people, the trans community and families.

Another well-established Midlands LGBT festival, Walsall Pride is this year taking place on the Saturday of the August bank holiday weekend. No artists have been announced as yet, but the 2016 edition of the event saw the fantastic Stooshe headlining a day of fabulous fun that also included camp cabaret at The Red Lion. Head to facebook.com/walsallprideofficial to keep up to date and receive the latest artist announcements.

SEPTEMBER

Debut Pride festival for Worcestershire

Saturday 2 September - Victoria Park leicesterpride.com

New for 2017, Worcester Pride is ‘Worcestershire’s first official Pride event, supporting the town’s LGBT community and beyond’. And hoorah for that, say we!

Taking place at South Quay, alongside the stunning River Severn, the festival is expected to feature live entertainment, markets, community stalls and a dance tent provided by local gay venue The Flag.

Despite initial concerns about its immediate future, Leicester Pride is set to go ahead after securing £10,000 of sponsorship from DeMontfort University. Kickstarting with a fantastic parade through the city streets, the festival action then continues at Victoria Park, where X Factor boyband Union J will be headlining the main stage. A dance arena, funfair and numerous community stalls add to the magic.

Saturday 23 September - South Quay, Worcester worcestershirepride.org

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SAT 26 & SUN 27 MAY 2018

2018 2018

THANK YOU

for supporting Birmingham Pride 2017

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SUMMER OF PRIDE

E D I R P F O R E M M SU JUNE

UK Diary Dates

Bristol Bear Fiesta and Southern HiBearnation Saturday 3 June Bristol Gay Village bristolbears.co.uk Oxford Pride Saturday 3 June Oxford Castle & Paradise Street oxford-pride.org.uk Blackpool Pride Saturday 10 June Winter Gardens blackpoolpridefest.co.uk Gloucestershire Pride Saturday 10 June Gloucester Park glospride.org.uk Pride Canterbury Saturday 10 June Dane John Gardens canterburypride.co.uk Coventry Pride Saturday 10 June Fargo Village coventrypride.org.uk York Pride Saturday 10 June Knavesmire yorkpride.org.uk Essex Pride Saturday 24 June Central Park, Chelmsford essexpride.org Portsmouth Pride Saturday 24 June Strawberry Banke seacoastoutright.org/portsmo uth-pride-2017

Stoke-on-Trent Pride Saturday 20 June Hanley Park stokeontrentpride.org.uk

Brighton Trans Pride Friday 21 - Sunday 23 July Brunswick Square, Hove

JULY

Chesterfield Pride Sunday 23 July Queens Park facebook.com/ Chesterfieldpride

Pride in London Saturday 8 July Trafalgar Square prideinlondon.org UK Black Pride Sunday 9 July Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens ukblackpride.org.uk Bourne Free Pride Saturday 1 July The Triangle, Bournemouth bournefree.co.uk Sparkle: The National Transgender Celebration Friday 7 - Sunday 9 July Sackville Gardens, Manchester sparkle.org.uk Pride Bristol Saturday 8 July Castle Park pridebristol.co.uk Newcastle Pride Friday 21 - Sunday 23 July Town Moor northern-pride.com L Fest Friday 21 - Monday 24 July Prestwood Hall Estate, Loughborough lfest.co.uk Pride in Hull Saturday 22 July Queens Gardens prideinhull.co.uk

transpridebrighton.tumblr.com

Norwich Pride Saturday 29 July The Forum and Chapelfield Gardens norwichpride.org.uk Swindon & Wiltshire Pride Saturday 29 July Town Gardens, Swindon swindonwiltshirepride.co.u Liverpool Pride Saturday 29 July Liverpool Pier Head liverpoolpride.co.uk

Bicon Convention Thursday 10 Sunday 13 August Leeds Beckett University 2017.bicon.org.uk Warwickshire Pride Saturday 19 August Pump Room Gardens warwickshirepride.co.uk Manchester Pride Friday 25 - Sun 27 August Manchester manchesterpride.com Cornwall Pride Saturday 26 August Victoria Gardens, Truro cornwallpride.org Walsall Pride Saturday 26 August Gallery Square facebook.com/walsallprideofficial

Brighton Dog Pride Sunday 30 July Preston Park brighton-pride.org

SEPTEMBER

Chester Pride Saturday 19 August Castle Square chesterpride.co.uk

Worcester Pride Saturday 9 September Worcester Common worcesterpride.org/pride2017

AUGUST

Brighton Pride Friday 4 - Sunday 6 August Preston Park brighton-pride.org Leeds Pride Saturday 5 - Sunday 6 August Lower Briggate leedspride.com

Leicester Pride Saturday 2 September Victoria Park leicesterpride.com

Cumbria Pride Saturday 16 September Carlisle City Centre cumbriapride.org

Midlands Zone wishes you a safe and happy Summer of Pride!

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Tina Sparkle Sat 3 - Sun 11 June

at Shrewsbury’s C:21 nightclub!

If you’re looking for a great night out to start your week, why not pop down to C:21 nightclub in Shrewsbury to enjoy its weekly gay night, Fabulous Mondays. The month kickstarts with popular drag act Tina Sparkle taking to the stage.

Monday 5 June C:21, Shrewsbury

Birmingham’s got its own semi! That’s the Drag Idol semi-final we’re talking about, with none other than Kerry Katona as the celebrity guest judge. The event is being hosted by La Voix and will see drag queens from across the country battling it out to make it to the popular talent contest’s spectacular final!

Saturday 3 June - Eden, Birmingham

Kara VanThPeaVirk llage Inn ready to rock

Each and every Friday, Birmingham’s Village Inn hosts great cabaret acts on its colourful stage - and this week it’s the turn of the wild and witty Kara Van Park.

Don’t forget there’s also music from the fab DJ Lotty to enjoy, and great drinks offers to boot!

Friday 9 June The Village Inn, Birmingham

Cirque De Cabaret with the UK Please Boys

There’s some scouse fun to be had at Birmingham’s Eden Bar this week, as glitter-loving, Britain’s Got Talent star Danny Beard takes to the stage in the venue’s marquee. If you’ve not seen this awardwinning act before, make sure you get on down there!

Thursday 8 June Eden Bar, Birmingham

Fetish fun in Brum!

Saturday 3 June sees the launch of the raunchy and racey Cirque De Cabaret with none other than the hot and hunky UK Pleasure Boys! The weekly all male cabaret show features pyrotechnics, fire and illusions, stunning ariel acts Boylesque dance routines a comedy drag queen and a full monty show! It could quite possibly be the sexiest show to ever grace The Nightingale stage!

Got a fetish? Then you’ll probably be gagging to get to Birmingham’s biggest and best fetish night! Birmingham Fetish Men is back for its sixth installment and welcomes men of all shapes and sizes wearing things like rubber, leather, sportswear and neoprene. The dress code is strict - so you can’t turn up in jeans and t-shirt - but as long as you adhere to it, we guarantee you’ll have bundles of fetishy fun!

Every Saturday from 8:30pm The Nightingale, Birmingham

Saturday 10 June - Eden, Birmingham

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Mon 12 - Sun 18 June

Jonathan Hellyer as his popular alter-ego, The DE Experience - a tribute to Dame Edna - will be performing his highly acclaimed stage show at the award-winning Village Inn this month. The DE Experience went down a storm in the Cabaret Marquee at Birmingham Pride last month, so make sure you catch this show!

Friday 16 June - The Village Inn, Birmingham

Britain’s Got Ta lent’s La Voix - wh o was last year voted Best National Cabare t Act in the Midlands Zone Re aders’ Awards returns to Eden for anothe r entertaining ev ening!

Thursday 15 Ju ne - Eden, Birm ingham

Hitman and Her with Gavina!

If you’re fans of music from the likes of The Smiths and Morrissey, then there’s a whole night dedicated to it this month! Let’s party!

Saturday 17 June Eden, Birmingham

Cocktail time at Sidewalk

Fancy joining us for a cocktail or several at Sidewalk?

They’re two-for-one from 12pm till 8pm every day - or all day on a Monday! Which one will you choose?

Everyday at Sidewalk, Birmingham

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Join DJ Mike Emery and you r hostess Gavina every Friday at Missing for a nigh t of fun and music. Plus... there are bottles of Prosecco for just £12.95 from 7pm!

Every Friday at Missing, Birm ingham

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Mon 19 - Sun 25 June

Fancy some Friday night cab aret? Then get on down to The Village Inn for an evening with the bottom-slappingly funny Tanya Hyde!

Friday 23 June - The Village Inn, Birmingham

Furry fun with MidsBears

If you’re a bear or a friend of the bear community at large, then pop down to MidsBears at Eden every third Friday of the month. It’s a great night out and attracts a fab crowd. Check it out you’ll love it!

There’s a great night of cabaret in store at Birmingham’s Eden Bar this month, with the incredible Brenda LeBeau taking to the stage to entertain the masses.

Friday 23 June - Eden, Birmingham

Thursday 22 June - Eden, Birmingham

Who doesn’t love £1 drinks? We certainly do, and we’re sure you do too - so head down to The Nightingale every Thursday for a great and pleasingly cheap night out!

Every Thursday - The Nightingale, Birmingham 34 MidlandsZone.co.uk

This month sees the return to Eden Bar of Scottish starlet Mary Mac. She’ll be live on stag e to entertain the boys and girls of Brum with her wickedly hilarious cabaret show.

We highly recommend popping in to see her!

Saturday 24 June - Eden, Bir

mingham

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£1.50 Bombs every Thursday at

Sidewalk Mon 26 June - Sun 2 July

If you’re a fan of Jagerbombs, Skittlebombs or Buccabombs, then Sidewalk is the place to be every Thursday. You can get these, along with many more flavours, for just £1.50! Bombs away, kids, bombs away!

Every Thursday - Sidewalk, Birmingham

And just like that, it’s the end of the month! But what better way to finish things off than by heading for The Village Inn to join that ‘whore of Hampstead Heath’, Sandra London, for her regular last-Friday-of-the-month residency!

Fri 30 June - The Village Inn, Birmingham

You can never have too much of Danny Beard! Following his Best National Cabaret Act victory in this year’s Midlands Zone Readers' Awards, the glorious Danny is returning to Birmingham at the end of the month for even more glittery fun!

Thursday 29 June - Eden Bar, Birmingham

Grab a great roast at The Loft

Feeling a little bit ropey after Saturday night’s shenanigans?

Then look no further than The Loft for your hangover-cure Sunday lunch! With an impressive selection of meats available, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better offer! Nothing beats a bit of meat and two veg on a chill-out Sunday, does it?

Every Sunday The Loft, Birmingham

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L, club night, XX ldest men-only bo d an t es gg bi th.

The Midlands’ ay of each mon t - the last Frid providing the ll re or M has got a new slo ul Pa nand producer g event sees hu With resident DJ e award-winnin th n t, ee gh tw ni be e th in everything soundtrack to ars to cubs and be om fr en m dreds of ght away.

- partying the ni , Birmingham - The Core Club ne Ju Friday 30

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Arts • Theatre • Entertainment

freaks, weirdos and Behold! A kooky collection of ing about an average night talk goofballs... And no, we’re not me on you for thinking that we out down the gay village (sha current touring production were!). We’re talking about the with gruesome makeup, e plet com of The Addams Family, television faces Les Dennis theatrical cobwebs and familiar tEnders) Womack.

Eas and Samantha (Ronnie from etingling evening of spin ly rted thea So if you fancy a ligh sion at 0001 man old music and laughter, the gloomy e to head for plac the ly nite Cemetery Lane is most defi is the place to w belo d liste ues ven e thre (well, one of the ...). idea the head for, actually - but you get gham Hippodrome; min Bir Tues 6 - Sat 10 June tingham Theatre Royal; Not y Jul 1 Sat e Tues 27 Jun hampton Grand Theatre ver Tues 17 - Sat 21 October - Wol

Pavel Brázda Is Here Offering irrefutable evidence that you’re never too old to expose yourself to new people, this is 91-year-old Czech artist Pavel Brázda’s first ever UK exhibition. “This series of works is structured into individual chapters, each with a beginning and end,” says the man himself. “It all begins with birth and youth. Then it spans across a range of erotic themes to more dramatic and existential topics such as old age or death.”

Thurs 1 June - Sat 1 July - Library of Birmingham

That naughty Oscar Wilde was causing controversy again with this one-act play, which was banned for 35 years in the UK. Already banged up in the slammer for being a bit too keen on willies, Wilde missed the show’s premiere in Paris.

Telling the tale of Herod’s daughter and her desire to see John the Baptist’s head on a plate (personally we prefer egg and chips on our plate, but each to their own), the play is here presented by the RSC to mark the 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales.

Salomé is played by a male actor, but in a clever acknowledgement of our splendidly gender-fluid times, the character is nonetheless referred to throughout the production as ‘she’.

Fri 2 June - Wed 6 September Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon

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To some, he’s a m uch-cherished national treasur e; to others, he gives a whole ne w meaning to the term ‘scream qu een’. One thing’s for sure, though - Si r Elton John is an uber-talented su perstar-perform er with a string of big fat chart hits behind him. Expe ct to hear most of ’em during this lat concert, which se est es him resting hi s celebrity bum on piano stool in Br a um (hey, that rh ymes!) for an im 36th time. pressive Wed 7 June - Ge nting Arena, Bi rmingham

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Ursula Martinez has been described as a ‘performance provocateur’ - and anybody attending this latest show will find it easy to see why. Baring all as she sets about gaining a better understanding of the absurdity of modern living, she shocks and surprises with plenty of politically incorrect chat. She also builds a wall between herself and her audience using breezeblocks and cement, as well as revealing that she’s got a bit of a thing about anal hygiene. Glad to hear it, luv...

Just a hop, skip and a mince from Birmingham’s hot’n’happening gay village, the city’s Southside district is an area that’s positively bursting with fun and frivolity this month, thanks to the return of this two-day festival.

The theme for 2017 is ‘the great outdoors’, so visitors shouldn’t be surprised to see Farmer Giles in attendance, complete with five-bar gate and pearls of wisdom on all manner of subjects (hopefully he’ll stop short of shoving his arm up anything, but best keep your wits about you just in case). Birmingham’s original mega-folk favourites, The Destroyers, are on hand too, while other attractions include an interactive storytelling adventure and ‘a quirky, colourful and energetic collision of dance and music’.

Sat 17 - Sun 18 June - Birmingham Hippodrome

Wake Up & Deirdrealize

Thurs 15 - Sat 17 June The REP, Birmingham

Funny Girl

This critically acclaimed new version of the hit musical stars Natasha J Barnes in the title role, with the oh-so-hunky Darius Campbell lending manly support as her ne’er-do-well hubby.

Written over 50 years ago, debuting on Broadway in 1963 and making a star of the ever-magnificent Barbra Streisand, Funny Girl tells the story of real-life Broadway legend and comedian Fanny Brice. Iconic numbers include People and Don’t Rain On My Parade.

Mon 12 - Sat 17 June - Nottingham Theatre Royal; Mon 24 - Sat 29 July - Wolverhampton Grand Theatre

Lucy Harrington here stars as Deirdre Me, a comedy character she describes as ‘more magnanimous than Gandhi, sexier than chocolate, hotter than the sun’.

“The show is an audacious combination of storytelling and game show, with a dark twist,” explains Lucy. “It’s the story of one woman’s desperate search for meaning, in a world where dreams are sold as reality and the notion of ‘fake it to make it’ is pushed to the extreme.”

Thurs 8 June The Old Joint Stock Theatre, Birmingham Set in a Saint-Tropez nightclu b, La Cage aux Folles tells the story of the venue’s gay man ager, Georges, his romantic partner, Albin, and the problems tha t ensue when Georges's son brings home his fiancée's ultra-conse rvative parents...

John Partridge showcases his finest selection of pouts and plenty of other talents bes ides in this most magical of musicals. Marti Webb and Adrian Zmed also star.

Tues 27 June - Sat 1 July -

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Festival Director Lawrence Barton and Pride Director David Nash

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Pride Main Stage

Nadia Rose

Louisa Johnson Calum Scott Dua Lipa Saara Aalto Seann Miley Moore Raye

Jonas Blue

Jamelia

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Picturel Specia Charlotte Church & Craig Revel-Horwood

Sophie Ellis-Bextor

Dua Lipa Boney M

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ge Around the Gay Villa

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ge Around the Gay Villa

Pictures by Laura Byrne, Antony Collins, Clive Padden, James Furnival, Jason Dawson,

Kal Ahmed, Jason Dawson & Rikki Miles

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Scene - XXL.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2017 16:26 Page 1

SStto Stoke-on-T Sto toke-on-T okkee-on oke-on oke oonnn-Tr -T Tre rent ren re ennt P Pririd riide idde

Saturday atur atu at urd rda day ayy 2244 Juun une ne Han H anl an nley nley nle leey P Park Pa ark ark ar rk See our team for....

STI testing e Free condoms Sexu ual health ad dvice Freeb bies ...and and d more!

Gaylife Stok o e

@ aylifeStoke @G

www.lgbtsttoke.co.uk

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Birmingham’s men-only club night, XXL, attracted hundreds of guys to The Core Club on the eve of the city’s Pride festival last month

Pictures by Antony Collins

The award-winning club night takes place on the last Friday of every month, with resident DJ and producer Paul Morrell on the decks.

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Competitions & Sexual Health.qxp_Layout 1 01/06/2017 15:43 Page 1

COMPETITIONS

WIN! A pair of tickets to We fell in love with it when it played Birmingham, and now La Cage Aux Folles has headed up the road to delight the theatre-going public of Wolverhampton!

Set in a Saint-Tropez nightclub, La Cage tells the story of the venue’s gay manager, Georges, his romantic partner, Albin, and the problems that ensue when Georges's son brings home his fiancée's ultra-conservative parents...

EastEnders actor John Partridge stars, with able support coming from West End favourite Marti Webb. The one-time co-star of ’80s cop series TJ Hooker - US actor Adrian Zmed - also features.

La Cage runs at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre from Tuesday 27 June to Saturday 1 July. Tickets are on sale now - and guess what? We’ve teamed up with our friends at the Grand to give away a pair to one of our ever-faithful readers!

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is answer the following question at midlandszone.co.uk In which TV soap did John Partridge appear?

A) Emmerdale B) Hollyoaks C) EastEnders Competition closes on Fri 30 June.

WIN! A pair of tickets to see If you fancy a night out at the theatre enjoying a great musical, we’ve got one hell of a competition for you to enter!

Yep, that’s right, we’re giving away a pair of tickets to see Miss Saigon at the Birmingham Hippodrome!

Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed new production is visiting the second city as part of a UK tour.

Set in 1975 during the American evacuation of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War, it tells the tragic tale of a young orphan named Kim and her love affair with an American GI.

WIN! A meal for four at Given that it’s recently been the recipient of a mahoosive refurbishment costing tens of thousands of pounds, there can be no better time to visit The Loft for a couple of drinks and a gobsmackingly good meal!

We’ve teamed up with the lads and lasses at The Loft to give you a chance to win a meal for four!

With an extensive menu on offer, ranging from pizzas and burgers to roast dinners, there’s plenty to tempt and tantalise the tastebuds.

Where is The Loft located in Birmingham?

A) Jewellery Quarter B) Gay Village C) China Town

Couple that with a fantastically inventive cocktail menu and you’re in food & drink heaven!

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To enter this competition, all you need to do is visit midlandszone.co.uk and answer this simple question:

Competition closes on Fri 30 June.

in Brum!

Miss Saigon runs at the Hippodrome from Wednesday 26 July until Saturday 23 September. Tickets are now available at birminghamhippodrome.com To enter this fabulous competition, simply answer the following question at midlandszone.co.uk Who has produced this latest version of Miss Saigon?

A) Andrew Lloyd-Webber B) Cameron Mackintosh C) Rodney Trotter Competition closes on Fri 30 June.

in Brum!

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The team at Gaylife Stoke are working to raise awareness of good sexual health practices for this month’s Men’s Health Week, which runs from 12 to 18 June.

Check out the team’s five key need-to-know facts when it comes to sexual health...

1. Syphilis is on the rise nationally and locally Cases of syphilis among men who have sex with men have increased significantly recently, not just in the Midlands but across the country too.

Syphilis can lead to serious health problems if left untreated, so it’s worth getting a full sexual health check-up between each sexual partner.

2. You may be putting condoms on incorrectly You’d be surprised how many people don’t know how to put on a condom correctly. To do so, you should check the date and kite marks, tear along the serrated edge, squeeze the tip and roll down to the base. Missing any of these steps can increase the likelihood of the condom failing to do its job.

3. You can get STIs from oral sex Many STIs can be passed through oral sex, including chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis. Even HIV can be passed on through oral sex. The risk of this is low, but it can happen. The best way to prevent getting an STI from oral sex is to use a condom.

4. It’s not all about anal Not all men who have sex with men have anal sex.

‘Sex’ is different for everyone and can range from a bit of hand play to oral to anal. If you don’t like anal, don’t feel like you need to do it just because it’s what you believe you should be doing. In fact, the team at Gaylife have come up with a whole range of things you can do instead - visit thedicktionary.co.uk to find some alternative sexy stuff.

5. Sex doesn’t have to be like in porn movies Don’t put pressure on yourself to act like a porn star.

Porn is often an unrealistic representation of sex (the average porn penis is two to three inches bigger than the average non-porn penis!), so don’t feel like you have to act out what you see online. Only do what you’re comfortable with and take things at your own pace.

For more information on sexual health and LGBT services in Stoke-on-Trent, visit lgbtstoke.co.uk

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GADGETS

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PlayStation VR

From the moment you slip on PlayStation VR - the virtual reality system for PlayStation 4 - you will experience games in an entirely new way. You will be at the centre of the action, living every detail of extraordinary new worlds, and will feel like you’re actually inside the game. £349 amazon.co.uk

t

The New Nintendo 2DS XL

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Arctis 3 Gaming Headset

The new clamshell-design system will be available in a stylish Black + Turquoise colour, as well as White + Orange, and will use the same size large screen found on New Nintendo 3DS XL systems. As the name of the new system implies, visuals will be displayed in 2D only, unlike its big brother, the 3DS, which brings 3D gaming to the palm of your hand! The system is lighter but still packs the same power as New Nintendo 3DS XL, and has built-in NFC support for amiibo cards and figures.

The new Arctis 3 gaming headset, designed for everywhere you game, offers remarkable sound, comfort and style on all gaming platforms. It features SteelSeries 7.1 surround sound that delivers immersive sound on PC, and stereo audio on Mac, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, VR and mobile. £79.99 amazon.co.uk

t

£129.99 amazon.co.uk

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Nintendo Switch

Hyperkin Smart Boy

Give your old Game Boy Cartridges a burst of new life with the Smart Boy! This device transforms your Android phone into a vintage-style, handheld Game Boy Console! So if you want to play all your old favourites, this is the gaming accessory for you!

In addition to providing single and multiplayer thrills at home, the Nintendo Switch system also enables gamers to play the same title wherever, whenever and with whoever they choose. The mobility of a handheld is now added to the power of a home gaming system to enable unprecedented new video game play styles. £279.99 game.co.uk

£59.99 funstockretro.co.uk

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Food and drink news from across the Midlands...

Fishy goings-on... Seafood eatery to open branch in Birmingham A new seafood eatery which has recently been launched in Cardiff has announced plans to open a branch in Birmingham.

Seafood Shack features a Victorian-style fish & chip bar and takeaway, a 150-capacity ‘shanty tavern’, a Champagne and oyster bar, a roof garden and a 200-seater restaurant. Its menu includes lobster, dressed crab, jumbo crab claws, prawn tails, langoustine, crayfish, scallops and deep-fried calamari. The opening date for the Birmingham branch is yet to be announced by Seafood Shack’s owners.

Michelin-starred restaurant offers ‘golden tickets’

mingham Michelin-starred Bir is next ’s ell restaurant Purn 10th birthits g tin ra month celeb niversary day with a special an dining a d menu - and you an to enjoy ere th be uld partner co of y a golden the occasion, courtes . ticket prize draw ner, Glynn Purnell’s chef and ow to give 15 ng isi om Purnell, is pr guests eir th d an ers nn lucky wi on Frie’ tim ‘the evening of a life rant tau res e th en day 7 July, wh e gn pa am hosts an exclusive Ch . nu me se ur reception and 10-co ce of winning To be in with a chan tickets, all n lde go one of only 15 a stamped d sen is do to you have Mr Purto: addressed envelope Draw, ize Pr t ke nell’s Golden Tic rnCo 55 t, an ur sta Re Purnell’s B3 m, ha wall Street, Birming 2DH. entries is The closing date for 5pm). The (at ne Ju Thursday 15 their e 15 winners will receiv beginek we e golden tickets th . ne Ju 19 ay ning Mond

Candy cocktails are child’s play at Bar Opus Birmingham’s Bar Opus is offering its customers the chance to channel their ‘inner child’ this summer, courtesy of an uber-cool collection of candy-inspired cocktails.

The popular venue will take patrons back to their childhoods with its brand new range of drinks, the Bar Opus booze technicians adding a very grown-up twist to kids’ favourites such as sherbert lemons, pear drops and Parma violets.

For details of all 13 new seasonal cocktails, visit baropus.co.uk

Enjoy a five-course dinner with Tom Aikens Tom’s Kitchen at The Mailbox is offering Birmingham foodies the chance to enjoy dinner with Michelin-starred chef Tom Aikens on Thursday 8 June (kicking off at 7pm).

With tickets priced at £90 per person, guests will be treated to an aperitif on arrival and a five-course dinner with matching wines.

Tom will personally cook and serve each dish, accompanied by the restaurant’s head chef, Tom Wells.

To book your place, call 0121 289 5111 or email birmingham@tomskitchen.co.uk.

Food festival to make Wolverhampton debut The first Wolverhampton Festival of Food & Drink takes place next month (Saturday 8 & Sunday 9 July).

The event is expected to feature 40 food & drink outlets, and cooking displays by street food traders and local chefs. The line-up of attractions also includes live bands, comedians, a Champagne/Prosecco bar with music, a family area with an open-air cinema and traditional fairground games.

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THE LIFE OF A THIRTYSOMETHING GAY The Stephen Spinks Column

“

History Gone Queer

I thought I’d heard pretty much every homophobic slur there was.

Fag, sausage-jockey, queer, shirtlifter - most have come my way over the last 35 years, and most have simply slid off me like lube on an extralarge dildo.

Nowadays I barely hear anything.

Perhaps I’m fortunate, or just too thick-skinned even to raise an eyebrow. Perhaps my defences are so strong I don’t even know it. As Panti said at that amazing Ted Talk during Ireland’s gay marriage debate, ‘I’m just scanning the horizon and fed up of being afraid’.

But then, last week happened...

It was one of those simple conversations that suddenly and unexpectedly falls into a black hole. The type that makes you want to shout and hit someone for their stupidity and outright insensitivity. I’m rarely floored, but this homophobe astounded me. “Gaaays,” he said in his thick cockney accent, “well you lot ’ave only been around for the last twen’y years. Now everyfin’s so fackin’ PC!” Well, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, you will be pleased to know that this sister sorted him ‘propa’ and ‘well put him right, yeah’, so to speak. My distinctive twin-set-and-pearls retort was enough to outwit and outman him even before he could put down his lager! He’d picked the wrong gay!

That said, his lack of apparent awareness of gay history didn’t, in hindsight, surprise me, although his comments rankled for days. It got me thinking.

Why should he know our history? Do we even know it ourselves? So much of LGBT-plus culture is hidden, having been forced underground, expunged by puritanical censors or simply covered over, nowadays in places like Russia but stretching back as far as Ancient Greece. Those hunky Spartans of 300 fame (yes, I mean the movie) may have had a propensity for killing their babies if they showed any kind of weakness that might’ve prevented them from growing up to be fierce warriors, but

they would never have entertained the idea of killing a man simply because he slept with another man. In Ancient Greece, sexuality was not defined by gender but rather by who did what to whom. If you were top, you were considered a man, held higher social status and were respected for your apparent masculinity. If you were bottom, you were penetrated and therefore subservient, lower in social status and often considered a youth. Two men could love each other more freely, but one was regarded as inferior. Some would argue that this distinction is still, shamefully, in evidence on the modernday scene. As a guy who shares both top and bottom bunks, I wonder what the Spartans would’ve made of me?! ‘Entrepreneurial’, one hopes.

The most famous Greek gay of them all, Alexander the Great, who conquered vast swathes of the Western and Eastern world, bore two children, had two wives but loved beyond measure his male lover Hephaestion, who he kept beside him until his premature death (think Colin Farrell). Then there were Achilles and Patroclus of Troy fame, penned by Homer. When Patroclus was killed by Hector, Achilles’ anger knew no bounds. He killed the Trojan prince and destroyed the city of Troy in revenge for the death of his famous lover. Hollywood’s Brad Pitt version omitted that fact. No surprise there! Whilst the story of Achilles is folklore, the tales of Greek male love have been passed down the centuries and reveal a lot about how cool those Greeks were regarding homosexuality.

The gays were most certainly out and about thousands of years ago - and had it pretty damn good, it would seem!

Fast forward two thousand years or more, and one of the next notable queers is Richard the Lionheart of Robin Hood fame. Not only did Richard spend most of his time hot-footing it around Europe with a gaggle of hurly burly knights and crusading in the Middle East, he would also from time to time find himself tucked up in bed with

”

the King of France, Phillip II. Contemporaries accused the king of being part of ‘the immense cohort of sinners’. Richard himself made confession and penance on two occasions, in 1191 and 1195, for the vice of sodomy.

Richard’s great-great nephew, Edward II, who ruled England between 1307 and 1327, is perhaps the best known of the English kings in terms of homosexuality. His love for his male favourite and childhood companion, Piers Gaveston, knew no bounds. When Gaveston was murdered in 1312 at the hands of Edward’s cousin, a chronicler of the time wrote, rather poetically, ‘in the lament of David upon Jonathan, love is depicted which is said to have surpassed the love of women. Our king also spoke thus’.

Edward himself would later lose his throne - but not his life, as legend would have it, by being buggered to death with a red hot poker. This was a fanciful story told some 50 years later. We all enjoy a good yarn.

Of course, the list goes on and on; William III, Queen Anne, Oscar Wilde, Vita Sackville-West - not to mention the queen’s uncle, Prince George, Duke of Kent, who had a longstanding relationship with Noel Coward.

The point, therefore, is a simple one.

We gays - men and women alike - have been in same-sex relationships as long as there have been people. Whilst the language and attitudes may have changed as the centuries have come and gone, we have continued to be, and always will be, that lager-drinking cockney’s absolute worst nightmare.

And that, folks, is very definitely our trump card!

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CAT’S CORNER

“

It’s been a rough few weeks for lovely gay stuff in this country. The pre-election chatter has brought out some pretty nasty homophobia.

One MP reportedly told a group of sixth formers that being gay was dangerous to society. Another refused to say that homosexuality was not a sin, before apparently publicly changing his mind.

Across the pond, I’ve discovered that there’s a movement called #GaysForTrump. This has blown my mind. This is as unthinkable as Trump winning a presidential election. Oh, hang on... The world has definitely gone crazy - and not in a kooky Crazy Eyes way (I STILL find myself calling that programme Orange Is Not The Only Fruit - why the lesbian obsession with citrus fruit?).

So, I’m going to focus on something gorgeous for a change. It’s what we deserve. Namely, there have been two lovely weddings...

Tom Daley married his boyfriend

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”

Happy ever after... for now!

Lance Black, and the photos were cuter than, well, cuter than Tom Daley on his own. Dressed in purple and blue suits, and with ridiculous smiles on their faces, it was impossible not to share their happiness.

And then Sheldon got in on the act!

Well, no, of course we don’t yet know if a Shamy wedding is going to happen, but the actor who plays the Big Bang Theory character, Jim Parsons, has just married the other love of his life, Todd Spiewak. Again, there was lots of gushing about how happy everyone was.

Call me a hopeless romantic, but statistically we can be pretty sure that at least one of these gorgeous, lovely, happy couplings is one day going to end in D-I-V-O-R-C-E, which does put a bit of a damper on proceedings. But hey, at least they’ll be able to wear the suits again, something you can’t say of wedding dresses.

It might have been this kind of thinking which prompted Sir Ian McKellen

(who’s never been married or divorced, as far as I know) to announce recently that coming out is the best thing any gay person will ever do. I’m not so sure about that. Coming out, as far as I can remember, involved a lot of crying, a small amount of violence and some unfortunate name-calling.

My memory of that experience is further marred by the horrible thought that I was probably wearing stonewashed jeans at the time.

I imagine that Tom & Lance and Jim & Todd were all thinking that meeting their respective partners, or getting married, was the best thing they would ever do. And probably at least two of them, on some future date when the love has turned a little sour, will be thinking that getting a decree nisi is the best thing they’ve ever done. Coming out is just a necessary hurdle along the way.

Congratulations, Tom and Jim! May your adorable married lives last as long as they possibly can.

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E H T N O with L L BA Steve Ball A holocaust in the making The Pride festival season is in full swing and Birmingham Pride 2017 was a great success. The summer has lots more Prides in store too, both here in the Midlands and across the UK. The festivals provide a great opportunity to let down our hair, celebrate our identity and remind ourselves how far we’ve come in the last 20 years.

But let’s stay mindful of the fact that not everybody can take for granted the rights that LGBT people enjoy here in the UK. Take the southern Russian republic of Chechnya, for example, where Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov

planned to ‘eliminate’ the country’s gay community by the start of Ramadan at the end of last month.

Gay men there are fleeing brutal persecution and - according to Svetlana Zakharova of the Russian LGBT Network - police are holding more than 100 people and torturing some of them in an anti-gay crackdown.

Those not detained face pressure too, with families being encouraged to kill their gay relatives. There are claims that a gay 17-year-old died after his uncle pushed him from a ninth-floor flat in Chechnya. Local media reports stated that the family was told to “wash away the shame” of the teenager.

Foreign governments - including our own, the EU and the US, as well as human rights groups - have all voiced concern about the alleged abuses, urging the Russian and Chechen authorities to bring a halt to them.

There have been demonstrations in Birmingham and other UK cities to send a loud and resounding message that we will not sit by and tolerate the persecution of LGBTQ+ people.

But in a post-Brexit world, with Trump in the White House, nuclear tension in North Korea and continued atrocities in Syria, it’s understandable that some news gets brushed under the carpet, Victims - either gay or just perceived with the persecution of gays on the to be gay - are being held at a detenother side of Europe featuring pretty tion centre near Argun, 13 miles from low on the news agenda. But this is a the city of Grozny, where they are holocaust in the making that we all need being tortured with electric shocks, to pay attention to. Just because this is beaten with cables and crammed more happening 3,000 miles away doesn’t than 30 to a cell. At least three deaths make it any less real. have been reported.

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Here’s what we’ve been looking at online...

We all do it - spend hours on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Often, we’re distracted from what we should be doing by cat videos and funny pranks - or by something feelgood that’s been shared so much on the net it’s officially classed as ‘viral’. Well, here are some of Midlands Zone’s favourites from the past month!

GEORGE MICHAEL lip sync video message

BIRMINGHAM PRIDE Carnival Parade kicks off the 2017 festival in style!

Hailed an amazing success, Birmingham Pride is over for another year - but boy, was it a blast!

As usual, the event kicked off with the Carnival Parade. This year boasting a record number of entries, it was one of the brightest, most colourful Brum Pride processions

we’ve ever seen - so much so that we could happily watch it again and again!

That’s why it’s so great to see that the official Birmingham Pride carnival video over on Facebook has gained almost 250,000 views. If you haven’t seen it yet, check it out at fb.com/BirminghamPride

CELEB SNAPS!

Our fave celeb Instagram snaps...

Dua Lipa looked incredible in her Homo tee at Birmingham Pride!

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Calum Scott, joi ned by Matrix & Futurebound, LO VED Pride!

A Polish couple who are YouTuber vloggers have released a George Michael tribute video urging the Polish government to ‘wake up’ and allow same-sex couples to marry. They used a medley of the late singer’s songs to show that ‘Love is Love’, and were joined in the video by other members of the Polish LGBT community.

Check it out here: youtu.be/dU1DG4lvQyY

Raye was pouting with Pride in Birmingham last month!

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